ur advertisers are thrilled with the results they get from the Detroit Jewish , LETTERS We prefer letters that relate to articles in the Jewish News. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Brevity is encouraged. Letter writers generally are limited to one letter per 4-6 week period, space permitting. Letters must contain the name, address and tide of the writer, and a daytime telephone number. Original copies must be hand signed. Mail to the Jewish News at 29200 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax to (248) 304-8885; or e-mail to: rsklar@thejewishnews.com We prefer letters to be e-mailed. More original letters are posted at www.cietroitjewishnevvs.com ws Accept Nature's Way "The success of our business from a little party store into a major player today is due in part to our advertising in the Jewish News and the wonderful support it has if always given us. Co-owner Ron Asmar The Vineyards "Because of our advertising in the Jewish News, my mother Lil Bloom's Kosher Catering business became a great success and we are very proud to serve the Jewish community with wonderful success." JILT 12/24 2004 6 Co-owner Shirlee Bloom Bloom's Catering I was dismayed to read the article "Tailored for Tots" (Dec. 10, page 19). To suggest that normally func- tioning infants and young children need an edge to develop properly is misleading at the least, and, as far as I am concerned, can be potentially harmful. While it is true that today's chil- dren need to be encouraged to be more active for their physical, men- tal and social health, and that parental involvement with their chil- dren on a one-on-one level con- tributes to the child's growth and well being, the implication that infants or toddlers may not develop properly without a head start on par- ents creating and participating in structured exercise situations for them is misleading. With all the problems of our hur- ried society and reportedly high lev- els of anxiety in our American way of life, this is just one more guilt trip and busy work to saddle parents with. Most infants and toddlers, when presented with a varied envi- ronment and time to explore, will successfully develop on their own. Motor development is not a compet- itive race! Susan Ruttenb erg, physical therapist Huntington Woods JCC Opening Opposed I oppose the Shabbat morning open- ing of the Center Fitness Club because I believe that a Jewish insti- tution should at least respect the few hours on Saturday morning as the exclusive domain of synagogues to conduct Shabbat services ("Shabbat Fitness," Dec. 17, page 20). By opening the Fitness Club in West Bloomfield on Shabbat morn- ing, the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit is not only competing with other fitness facili- ties, but also with synagogues. There are quotations from Maimonides and Hillel in large print across the upper walls of the Fitness Club. This was done pre- sumably to show the compatibility and importance of fitness in a Jewish lifestyle. The quotes seem hollow because competing with Shabbat services does not seem corn- patible with a Jewish lifestyle. In my opinion, the JCC and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit have quit trying to operate the fitness facility as a part of the Jewish Community Center. Of what benefit is it to bring more Jews back to the JCC if the JCC doesn't remain closed in deference to Shabbat morning? The symbol of the Jewish day of rest has been trad- ed in exchange for the possibility of selling more fitness memberships. Incidentally, I work out at the Maple-Drake JCC almost every Saturday afternoon. Alan Pearlstein director of JCC Health Club, 1989-1997 Walled Lake An Unfortunate Direction Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit leaders are extending weekend hours, including Saturday morning, for the needs of its Fitness Club members ("Shabbat Fitness," Dec. 17, page 20). Did they think of the members when they closed the tennis courts? Did they think of the members when they closed the squash and racquet- ball courts? When the JCC board presented its Shabbat-morning-hours proposal to the Michigan Board of Rabbis — not for approval, but as a fact — this was the height of chutzpah. The Federation allotted $1.6 mil- lion to the JCC from the 2004 Annual Campaign. Does Federation need to pour millions of dollars annually into a JCC that ultimately sees itself as a glorified health club? The JCC in Oak Park has not changed weekend hours. What is the difference between Jews in that area compared to West Bloomfield? My rabbi, Elliot Pachter of Congregation B'nai Moshe, said something quite profound in your article: The Shabbat morning hours present an unfortunate direction." Is the next unfortunate direction opening on Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? I quote Philip Slomovitz, then JN publisher and editor, when the JCC first added Saturday hours, "We appeal to the board of directors to reverse a decision we view as unwise and harmful to our community." Rudy Keller Bloomfield Hills Inspiring Role Models Todah rabbah — great thanks — to Staff Writer Shelli Liebman Dorfman for putting together such an inspiring article about our adult Hebrew classes that have been meet- ing on Wednesday nights during Joe Cornell dance classes at Congregation B'nai Moshe this year ("Disco With A Dalet," Dec. 17, page 57). We hope that your readers were inspired, as we have been, by the personal stories shared by the parents who talked with Shelli for this article. When parents decide to take the plunge and start learning how to read Hebrew, they are making a powerful statement about their per- sonal Jewish commitment and their willingness to act on that commit- ment even if — indeed, especially if — it may well entail displaying vul- nerability in front of their children. The parents in our National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) class who have recruited their children to tutor them in between class are incredible role models. These fami- lies are sharing a Torah experience that will remain with them always. Other congregations that host Joe Cornell dance classes each year can easily replicate what we have done with our NJOP program. All they need to do is line up an instructor, coordinate direct publicity to par- ents with the fine folks at Joe Cornell, publicize within their own shul and in the community and be willing to run the classes for just about any number of adult learners who show up the first night to par- ticipate. We do not require advance regis- tration, and we are willing to run a class with as few as three students. Nancy F. Kaplan Kolel Moshe Institute for Lifelong Jewish Learning Congregation B'nai Moshe West Bloomfield Corrections • "Warming Up To Cool" (Dec. 17, page 5) implied that Hewlett-Packard, headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., does not currently have a skilled workforce in Michigan. In fact, it has a sales and service office in Livonia. It also has recently expanded its IT Operations Center in Dearborn that employs more than 200 skilled IT professionals. • The photo caption in "Eye- Opening" (Dec. 17, page 24) had the name of Vicki Beneson misspelled.